Pyro Versus War Pass

In this Thoroughbred season, Steve Asmussen trained Pyro could thwart a possible Triple Crown bid by unbeaten War Pass, schooled by Nick Zito.

Does Pyro have the ability to catch War Pass?

He does. And he will.

After testing one another (once again) in this season's Kentucky Derby, a 1-1/4 miles grade one race that War Pass will win, Steve Asmussen trained Pyro and Nick Zito's War Pass will meet in the shorter (1-3/16 miles) Preakness Stakes two weeks later. The shorter distance will favor Pyro, who will be able to charge from the back in a faster closing clip than a longer race affords him, while War Pass, eager to maintain a lead, will gear up too late.

Pyro will spoil yet another Triple Crown attempt when he puts War Pass away at the wire.

Having said that, I hope my prediction is groundless -- the logic for it certainly is (but it might happen in the Belmont Stakes*!#) -- and I wish it to never come...ah...to Pass. However, anything can happen. And in Thoroughbred racing, so many times, it does. It appears, thus far, that we may have one of those Affirmed-Alydar things, where Pyro and War Pass struggle against one another all through the triple races.

Thoroughbred racing has seen a long skid of two-race TC champs who fell short of gathering in that elusive third race, be it the Derby, the Preakness, or the killer, the Belmont Stakes. The American Triple Crown is, perhaps, the most difficult of sporting feats in which to achieve total victory.